Look at the comparisons between now and the late Roman Empire. Polarized political factions, widespread corruption. Parties bought the votes of the Plebs with the bread dole (welfare), bribery. trinkets and distracted the population with bloodsports in the arenas (violent tv, movies ect) with an overextended military and uncontrolled influx of the barbarians from Gaul and Germania... just hope when the collapse happens it's not as bad as the fall of Rome and dark age doesn't last as long
